Posts Tagged ‘Drake’

Look I am not the biggest Lil Wayne fan. I am not the biggest Hova fan. Actually, I think they are both over rated(with some strong stand out tracks and a decent album here and there). Yet, Lil Wayne’s manipulated wordplay that references H.A.M. is actually funny for a battle rap, even though neither Wayne or Hova will fire a literal shot. So far, Wayne is winning this mediocre battle of rappers who are good because the current field of rappers suck or are outdated.

The worst, most realistic case scenario for this battle: No one winner can be decided and both rappers profit even more.

The best case scenario: One rapper is so utterly shamed and destroyed that they are wiped off the face of the Earth leaving a huge hole where Q-tip, Andre 3000, Big Boi, Pete Rock, Sean Price, Ghostface, Curren$y, Atmosphere, El-P, de la, classic Gang Starr, the revival of DMX and the Roots will eventually fill with timeless music that hip-hop has been missing. Fuck, I’ll even take a purple haze a la Cam’ron for hip-hop to regain its one prominent AND respectful place in this world, where no Gucci, OJ, Wakka or Machine Gun Kelly could ever exist.

Straight out the muthafuckin slums dungeons* of rap. British Columbia what’s good? This dude is a huge clown, but does a ton of research for each interview and gives the artists gifts that usually leaves them stunned and gets them talking about their past. I’ve only watched his interviews with rappers and he has at least a dozen worth watching. This one especially is hilarious because Curren$y is such a clown in juxtaposition to his ultra-serious mic persona.

Right off the bat: I really couldn’t care less about IPO Hov’s appearance on this track. I imagine that Decoded hasn’t sold as many copies as expected, so Superman needs to put away his ignorant shell and become conscious Hov again to please the whiiite crowd that’s broken his heart recently. I mean that’s who he’s mourning in this verse right???

But yo, 40 yo. Just killed the beat. I know this motherfucker’s not in here sampling Boards of Canada and shit. I read that some purists were complaining that he slowed down Sade’s voice for so long, but I’ve been in my ignorant cocoon of house remixes for so long that I’ve literally never listened to Sade in my life. I hope this low-tempo sound stays around because it really can hit hard. I really think it has a lot of potential and I love The Weeknd, but that album makes me feel like I’m in a brothel at 7 A.M. or on an upstate SUNY school campus. No pause, I respect Sade’s pipes. Included “Soldier of Love” which I’m literally just listening to for the first time now as a bonus.

Damn, these dudes are blowing up right quick. The only thing I know about them is that they’re an R&B group out of Toronto and that they apparently worked with that dude 40 that Drake shouts out in every other verse (usually he’s giving Drake advice or rolling his blunts). Damn yo, I miss that camaraderie. I don’t remember the last time I texted a friend just to tell them they got next.

I’ve been reading that The Weeknd sounds like Drake and The Dream which is accurate but unfair – the group has mastered the syrup-slow 808 sound that the aforementioned artists only hint at. I’m sure it’ll be polarizing, but for fans of that sound, it absolutely hits. First Frank Ocean, now the Weeknd? Is this an R&B revolution for white people? Strange enough, these are probably my two favorite albums this year.

How much does Lauren London look like Lil’ Kim???? ANYWAY, fashion students, lesbians, theater critics and the urban community fell in love with Minaj quick, while white dudes were intimidated by her ass and didn’t know what to make of her until they heard the “Monster” verse. Nicki is a spectacle, and is only behind Gaga in terms of obscene ornateness. But unlike Gaga, does her music actually deliver?

In 2011, release dates are pretty fickle given the nature of the internet and the propensity of albums being pushed back. Still, it’s fun as a music fan to anticipate, so here are some upcoming releases I’m looking forward to, with my lolzy attempts at genre categorization: